The labour movement in Australia

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston Universit

Enriching Life with Books

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The construction and evaluation of a word pronunciation test for grades four, five, and six

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Literary expressions of Creole identity in Alfred Mercier\u27s L\u27Habitation Saint-Ybars and Johnelle

This dissertation examines nineteenth-century Louisianan author Alfred Mercier’s novels and their roles as emblems of Francophone Creole cultural identity. During the nineteenth century following the Louisiana Purchase and subsequent anglophone influx, the French-speaking Creole population faced a cultural upheaval. Unable to completely identify as either French or American, Creoles occupied an uncertain space. This study demonstrates that Alfred Mercier’s works articulate a hybrid identity that is neither French nor American but rather a multicultural construct. The first chapter examines the nineteenth-century Creole community’s problematic positioning between French and American cultures. Chapters two, three, and four center on two of Mercier’s texts and concentrate on his depictions of race, gender, and language, respectively, while incorporating a historical perspective and establishing a literary context using works by more well-known French and francophone authors. This analysis shows that Mercier’s representations take into account the multiplicity of cultures established in Creole society, contesting the perception that Creole identity can be defined singularly

INTIMACY AND AUTONOMY: TWENTIETH CENTURY AMERICAN WOMEN AND THE QUEST FOR SELF-REALIZATION

This dissertation examines the effects of culturally managed gender expectations on intimate spaces. The study of these intimate spaces is rooted in the biographies of four relationships in the post-war period. Through exploration of these individual stories an understanding emerges of how monolithic cultural paradigms work for men and for women in very different ways. For purposes of archival availability and continuity, this dissertation focuses on a very specific group of people, namely women of great talent and ambition who were either married to or in a relationship with a man whose fame eclipsed her own. My question became how have women managed their own fulfillment within the limitations of a culture that so heavily promoted marriage and family as the only avenues for true feminine satisfaction. Furthermore, how did these women compromise or assert themselves in their quest for self-realization. Each relationship examined in this dissertation sheds light on a different aspect of the same cultural dilemma. The first couple examined is Joyce Johnson and Jack Kerouac. Joyce Johnson was a young writer herself when she met Kerouac, and was with him during his leap into fame after the publication of On the Road. This chapter explores the idea of privilege and the female attempt to find identity through connection to a man. The second chapter looks at Hettie and LeRoi Jones. This chapter uncovers the complications of race in the post-war period and the way that cultural antagonisms can seep into otherwise neutral or even loving environments. Hettie and LeRoi Jones also shared two children and that aspect of intimacy is also developed in this chapter. The third chapter studies the relationship between Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock. Lee Krasner’s work as an artist is often considered superior to her very famous husband, yet she has not garnered near the renown that he has. The way that Lee managed her work as an artist in a sexist art milieu as well as the way that she managed her relationship with her husband demonstrates a tremendous fortitude in the face of great obstacles. The last chapter looks at the relationship between Etta Moten and Claude Barnett. Etta Moten is little known but achieved many important firsts – including the first African-American female to appear in a non-stereotypical role in a movie and the first African-American female to sing at the White House. She was also very active in everything from the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement. Her husband, Claude Barnett founded the Associated Negro Press, and worked actively within the United States government as well. Their story demonstrates the possibilities for a more equitable relationship and also serves as a window through which to view African-Americans who were active in shaping their culture in the 20th century

Postcolonial writing in Louisiana: surpassing the role of French traditionalism in Alfred Mercier\u27s L\u27habitation Saint-Ybars

This thesis explores the roles of French patriarchal ideologies of the Enlightenment and exoticism in Alfred Mercier’s novel, L’habitation Saint-Ybars. His novel portrays the antebellum Creole plantation as a hierarchy of strict gender roles similar to those that Enlightenment philosophy espoused. I use the family in Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s classic, Paul et Virginie, as one example of such a hierarchy. There are also, however, several instances where Mercier departs from the paternalistic norm. I interpret Mercier’s moving away from this model to be a declaration of a unique Louisianian identity

Structural and Functional Characterisation of Glutathione-S-Transferases to Combat Multiple Herbicide Resistance in Black Grass (Alopecurus myosuroides)

Black grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is one of the most common weeds in Western Europe. With the increasing use of herbicides, in response to pressure to produce higher crop yields, incidences of multiple herbicide resistance have been widely reported. Previous work in this area has identified a phi class glutathione-s-transferase, AmGSTF1, as playing a causative role in this multiple herbicide resistance. Two classes of inhibitor have previously been identified: the first CNBF, a multi drug resistance drug; and the second a group of flavone compounds identified from ligand fishing experiments. These have been shown to have activity in vitro inhibiting the action of AmGSTF1 and in vivo against multiple herbicide resistant black grass. However, little was known about their mode of action. This work has focussed on investigating the interactions between these inhibitors and AmGSTF1 using crystallographic, biochemical and complementary biophysical techniques. Apo AmGSTF1 has successfully been crystallised, with the structure solved to 1.5 Å. In addition a structure has been solved to 2.0 Å with CNBF covalently modifying the Cys120 residue. For both these structures the crystal packing results in loops in the active site region being disordered as well as preventing small molecule binding within the active site. In order to determine the complete structure, a series of mutants were designed to alter crystal packing. The structure of these were determined, and they adopt a different packing arrangement which results in the previously disordered loops being ordered, as well as exposing the binding site. The structure of the F122T mutant was used for in silico modelling to determine the likely binding site for flavonoid ligands. The mutants were subsequently used for seeding and soaking experiments which allowed for a complete structure of wild type AmGSTF1 to be determined in complex with a glutathione conjugate of CNBF in the active site. This structure gives a significantly better understanding of the mode of action of these inhibitors, in addition to allowing for the possibility of future development of the inhibitors using structure based design

Improvement of oral reports through the students' use of audio-visual aids

Author misnumbered thesis. Please note that there are TWO page 108s, but the continuity is the same. Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Inclusive Education in Nigeria: Access and Equity

Inclusive education involves bringing together persons with disabilities and the non-disabled to study in the same classroom with adaptable facilities and equipment. With this arrangement in place the assistive technology becomes an unconditional requirement for children with special needs. It involves public and private programmes and laws. And it involves a number of other things including people who work in the "helping" professions. This paper examines some of the basic requirement for the inclusive programme to be feasible in any environment. The attitudes of people towards those with  disabilities globally, the challenges of people’s attitudes towards disability in Africa, in Nigeria and the challenges of people with disabilities themselves with a view to encourage the non- disabled to develop positive attitudes towards the disabled for social change. Recommendations are made for a way forward.

A qualitative exploration of indigenous breastfeeding beliefs and practices among lactating mothers in rural northern Ghana

Background: The World Health Organisation recommends that infants should be fed their mother's milk exclusively for the first six months. However, this is not the case in some underprivileged societies in Ghana.Objective: This study aimed to explore indigenous breastfeeding beliefs and practices among lactating women in rural northern Ghana.Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used to recruit 15 lactating mothers with babies less than six months of age. A semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth individual interviews. Each interview was audio recorded, transcribed and analysed.Results: Beliefs and practices before and during breastfeeding were reported. Participants reported that colostrum was not good for their babies, and mothers-in-law were reported as the custodians of these indigenous breastfeeding beliefs and practices. Indigenous breastfeeding practices are prevalent in rural Northern Ghana.Conclusion: More culturally appropriate breastfeeding campaigns need to be designed to curb negative breastfeeding practices